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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “What are some commendable qualities of fatherhood?”

With Father’s Day approaching on Sunday, we turn our attention to the qualities of a dad that are exceptional for training a child in the way they should go.

A father who is a good example is a motivator for their children. In First Thessalonians 2:11, the Apostle Paul told the church that he dealt with them as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging them to live lives worthy of God.

A father who is a good example practices what they teach. We see that in Deuteronomy 6, verse 6: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.” This verse encourages dads to look for teachable moments throughout the day.

A father who is a good example is also patient in the training process. They are not provoking children to anger with unrealistic expectations. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” These are some ways that a father can be a good and godly example for their children in the Year of Exploration.

Father’s Day is coming up on Sunday (June 21st). You could add some fun to your Father’s Day Weekend celebration by taking Dad out to the ballpark to see a Lancaster Barnstormers game Saturday night, June 20th!

Listen to WJTL all week for chances to call in and win a family 5-pack of tickets to the game this Saturday. You can call to win tickets if you’re a dad or if you want to take your dad out to the ballpark. Keep our number handy: 717-392-3690!

Father’s Day is coming up on Sunday (June 16th). You could kick-off your Father’s Day Weekend celebration by taking Dad out to the ballpark on Friday night! It’s WJTL’s Faith & Family Night with the Lancaster Barnstormers at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Gates open at 5:45 for a pre-game concert with Steven Courtney. Plus, games, contests, prizes and fireworks! Listen to WJTL all week for chances to call in and win a family 5-pack of tickets to Faith & Family Night. You can call to win tickets if you’re a dad or if you want to take your dad out to the ballpark. Keep our number handy: 717-392-3690

FIVE FUN FREE FAMILY THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND!!! June 15, 16 and 17, 2012

5)Esterlyn, in concert tomorrow (Sat. June 16th) at Kochenderfer UMC in Lebanon at 7PM! Admission is free. More info: kochenderfer.org

4) SummerFest 2012 tomorrow (Sat. June 16th) from 10AM-9PM at Church of the Open Bible in Parkesburg. Concerts by Calling Out Closer, Lee Arter Band, Fall to Grace and more. Free carnival games, prizes, bounce house, face painting, horse rides and more. More info: cotobible.com

3) Cookout & Movie “Courageous” at Salem Hellers Church – honoring fathers and fatherhood tonight (Friday, June 15th) at Salem E.R. Hellers Church in Lancaster at 6 pm with a hotdog cookout in the church parking lot, followed by the showing of “Courageous” at 7 pm. Admission is free for both the cookout and movie. More Info: 717-656-9249.

2) Free Community Picnic and Comedy with Local Christian Comedian Kenny Robinson tomorrow (Sat. June 16th) at Colonial Park Community Baptist Church in Harrisburg. The picnic starts at 5:00 PM with the Comedy starting at 6:15 PM. More info: colonialparkbaptist.com

FRED MCNAUGHTON – FIVE FUN FREE FAMILY THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND!!! June 17, 18 and 19, 2011

5) Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Lititz and Lancaster will celebrate National Flip Flop Day today (Friday) by offering the first 500 people at each location, wearing flip flops a free smoothie!

4) Family Day In The Park tomorrow (Saturday June 18th) from Noon-5PM at Gring’s Mill Recreation Area. Activities throughout the day include: Big Wheel Raceway, Bike Safety Course, Par-Course Family Fitness Challenge and more!
This event is FREE and presented by Berks County Parks & Recreation. More Info: http://www.countyofberks.com/parks

3) SummerFest 2011 at Church of the Open Bible in Parkesburg, tomorrow (Saturday). Free event featuring Unsearchable Riches and Calling Out Closer. Games, crafts, train rides, prizes and more. http://www.cotobible.com

2) World Refugee Day, tomorrow (Saturday June 18th) from 10AM-2PM at Lancaster Square. International Music, dance, arts, crafts and food. World Refugee Day is a day to remember the more than 42 million people worldwide who have been uprooted due to conflict and persecution. More info at www.cwslancaster.org

1) Father’s Day – Sunday: Make Dad Breakfast in Bed, go on a hike or a walk with him, read him a book, draw him a picture, bake him Father’s Day Cookies, pitch ball, hula hoop, ask him to sing you a song on his ukulele….

EDDIE DANIELS – Of all the guys I know in this world, I feel it’s safe to say I probably know my Dad the best. After all, I’ve known him my entire life. I grew up with him and when I moved out of the house back in 1992 that didn’t mean I stopped learning from him. He’s still teaching me things to this day. A few weeks ago I was on the phone with him and I’m sure it made for an interesting picture: Me, on the couch, my wife Sarah snuggled next to me, the phone between us, just listening to Dad as he gave some of his insights on life.

That’s the way it’s always been with Dad. Even when I was younger, Dad was like my own personal E.F. Hutton: When he talked, I listened.

There are so many stories, so many memories, I don’t know where to start. So many different flashes are bouncing around in my noggin…Should I tell you about the time he broke his leg and, tired of having to wear a cast, decided to take the law into his own hands and sat on a bucket and began to cut it off with a hacksaw? What about the time an old lady called Dad in the middle of the night because she had a bat in her house and he went over there armed with his tennis racket? You get the point. I have a lot of stories about Dad.

There have been times when I see people on TV talking about their childhood, how they would have turned out better if their father had only told them that he loved them. Dad’s kids will never have that problem. On the phone the other day, he told me he loved me and then followed that up with “I know I don’t tell you that enough.” I didn’t let him go on. If there’s one thing Dad’s always done, he’s let us kids know how much he loves us. With every call, every time I see him, and in his actions and words growing up, there’s never been a moment where I didn’t think he loved us.

That loyalty and commitment is something that isn’t saved only for us, either. When Dad is your friend, you know there’s nothing he won’t do for you. There’s no one Dad cares for that doesn’t know he cares for them and he’ll do anything for them. If something happens to someone Dad cares for, he is the first one in line to help.

Dad fought in the Vietnam war and he has an AMAZING story. To say it was a life-changing experience is putting it mildly and it molded him into the man he is today. Dad saw a lot over there: life, death, blood, friendship, bravery, cowardice, and even heard The Voice of God. For the last few years, on Memorial Day he goes to a high school and shares his story and testimony of how he spoke with God lying next to a tree in Dak To. It’s very powerful and moving. One night when we were living in the Mojave Desert, I sat down with a tape recorder and interviewed Dad about his time in Vietnam. I later typed out the transcript. It’s 32 pages long and it still moves me to tears when I read it. I always told Dad I wanted to make it into a movie script, and he told me I could, but only if I played his role (something I’m a little too old to pull off now).

The other thing that I think of is, of course, boxing. Dad and his brothers grew up learning a lot and what he learned there he applied in his life: If you want something, you have to work at it. If you work at for it, you’ll appreciate it more. Dad has a long string of prizes and titles under his belt and nobody in school ever tried to pull the “my dad can beat up your dad” line on me. Dad has spent the last – wow, I don’t know, 40 years is it? – passing on what he’s learned to kids. He’s a coach now, and when you train under my Dad you know you’re not just learning about The Sweet Science. You’re learning about life. I don’t know how many times I’ve been approached by people who tell me they “used to go down to the club” and then proceed to tell me what kind of impact Dad had on their life.

Those are the things – the war, boxing, his loyalty – that everyone knows about Dad. But I love the little details, the little surprises, just as much. I remember as a child going into the basement and finding an old black case tucked away in a far corner. Inside was an old, broken down, accordion. Yep. Dad played the accordion as a kid. Who would have guessed? I also recall the image of Dad up in the Sierra Nevadas in the Mojave Desert, panning for gold. He would sit there for hours, just him and his tools, and come back with tiny nuggets of gold in a small glass jar. He loves to read and he loves to watch Clint Eastwood blow the bad guys away. He has an iPod he uses to listen to Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. He was a Sunday School teacher for years, and I remember as a young kid seeing how much he loved playing with not only me and my siblings, but all the kids in the neighborhood. Hearing him laugh as we all tried (unsuccessfully) to wrestle him to the ground. Little details and quirks about him that I love.

Dad has a Purple Heart and a Golden Gloves title. He’s received all kinds of awards, honors, medals, certificates, and special congratulations. But the title he holds most dear is “Dad.”